GEN: overdue policy

[Greenup County High School Library <gchs@RAMLINK.NET>]

I have been fighting an uphill battle since I took this High school =
library job last year with respect to students who have overdue or lost =
books. The "unwritten" policy before I arrived was that grade cards and =
diplomas, in the case of seniors, could be held until library =
responsibilities were settled, which worked really well. However, last =
spring our new superintendent decided to abide by the letter of the law =
(to which I do not object at all) and disallow that policy. I then =
decided to keep students who owe  responsibilities from accessing the =
library materials. (They used to come in and steal what they needed  or =
get another student to check out books for them).  When a teacher signed =
up to bring a class to the library, I asked for a roster so that we =
could see who was on our overdue list. Those students then were not =
allowed to use the library until their name was cleared. This policy =
(again unwritten) worked wonderfully. A teacher (yes, personalities may =
come into play here)complained to the assistant principal who, in turn, =
sent me a MEMO saying that I could no longer do this.  I then called the =
Supt. who agreed with me and referred me to the board attorney for his =
opinion.  All looked legal to him, too.  He is in the "slow" process of =
writing an formal opinion for me.  This all must be approved by the =
board and the site-based council.  Until then my hands are tied.=20
Anyway, when I approach the board and council I would like to go =
"armed". I plan to pursue this to the end in a legal, professional =
manner. Please, this is my last straw. At what point can we hold kids =
accountable? What do you do?  Do you have a written(or unwritten) =
policy. How do all of you feel about this? P-l-e-a-s-e respond.   =20

Missi Baker
Greenup county High
Greenup, Ky 41144
mbaker@gchs.greenup.k12.ky.us